Technologies for Onsite or Pipeline ("near-site") Gas Production

Any number of Production Technologies can be applied for the production of O2, N2, Ar, H2, CO, and Syngas.

Onsite Production of Syngas, Hydrogen, and CO

The production of syngas (or either of its components: hydrogen and carbon monoxide) is typically done onsite using steam methane reforming (SMR), autothermal reforming (ATR), or partial oxidation (POX).

Onsite or Near-Site Production of Oxygen, Nitrogen, and Argon

Production of oxygen, nitrogen, and argon is done by air separation. Cryogenic air separation is capable of producing large quantities of high purity gas and/or liquid phase product, which is then easily stored or used.

Non-cryogenic air separation is conducted near ambient temperature, so the product - oxygen or nitrogen - is always gas phase. Production quantity and purity in non-cryogenic air separation are not as high as the quantity and purity attainable with cryogenic air separation.

Onsite or Pipeline?

Syngas production, whether by SMR, ATR, or POX is nearly always onsite. Air separation may be onsite (produced on-premises), near-site (delivered by pipeline), or off-site (delivered by truck).

Technologies for Hydrogen, CO, and Syngas Production

Steam Methane Reformer (SMR)

SMR is one of the predominant technologies for producing raw syngas (a gas mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide). Where only pure H2 is required as product, a water gas shift step is employed using steam as reactant to convert most of the CO in raw syngas to CO2 and additional H2.

Autothermal Reactor (ATR)

ATR technology is also catalytic but requires less steam than SMR and as a result produces lower R value syngas. It also requires vapor hydrocarbon feeds.

Partial Oxidation (POX)

Partial Oxidation is based on providing the heat of reaction via internal combustion of part of the feedstock with O2. The reactor can use natural gas, LPG, naphtha, asphalt, residual oil, petrol coke, or coal as feedstock.

Technologies for Oxygen, Nitrogen, and Argon Production

Production of oxygen, nitrogen, and argon is done by air separation. Cryogenic air separation is capable of producing large quantities of high purity gas and/or liquid phase product, which is then easily stored or used.

Non-cryogenic air separation is conducted near ambient temperature, so the product - oxygen or nitrogen - is always gas phase. Production quantity and purity in non-cryogenic air separation are not as high as the quantity and purity attainable with cryogenic air separation.